• Pictures: pictures of the accident scene, property damage, along with injuries will be able to assist the attorney when trying to piece together liability and the basis for compensation.
  
  
• Police report: after an accident, it is very important to call the police to show up and draft a report. In this police report, there could be witness names and party names.
  
  
• Property damage to your car: this will help determine how you were hit and the speed that the other car could have been driving.
  
  
• Witnesses: witnesses will be able to give all parties a picture of what happened.

There are several different types of causes as to why accidents are still at an all-time high in California, despite several cars being off the road while many work from home and go to school from home. These different causes are:

1. Speeding: speeding is the number one cause of car accidents. Many people are restless while sitting in California traffic and want to get to their destination quicker. Speeding accounts for more than 25% of fatal  car accidents. When you speed, it is very difficult to come to a sudden stop if there is another car in front of you. Others who speed may also lose control of the car, and may swerve into other vehicles or people. Speeding accidents could result in very severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries. These injuries are even more catastrophic if they involve large buses or trucks that are speeding.
   
   
2. Impaired driving: driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is the second most common cause for car accidents. Drunk driving usually occurs between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. When someone is driving behind the wheel drunk, their senses could be very impaired. For example, they could have blurry vision and fail to see the car in front of them. Drunk driving incidents have caused very severe injuries throughout the last couple years, such as broken bones and spinal cord injuries that could leave permanent injuries forever. Around 40% of drivers who were drug and alcohol tested after a major accident were found to have drugs in their system. Drugs also refer to legal drugs. The common stereotype is that if you take legal drugs, you may not be pulled over. You still will be pulled over despite the fact that you are on legal drugs.
   
   
3. Distracted driving: there are several different reasons as to why drivers could be distracted behind the wheel. For example, they could be eating, putting on makeup, drinking water, changing the radio, or looking off into the distance. Distracted driving is very difficult to prevent because many drivers do not realize that an accident is about to occur until the last second. This is a very dangerous habit, that despite many laws and regulations try to conquer, simply cannot. With drunk driving, there are several rules and regulations in place that penalize the drunk driver for any accidents that they have caused. However, distracted driving has no such rules in place.
   
   
4. Inexperienced drivers: streets in California could be very confusing, especially Los Angeles, with several one way roads. Drivers who are not aware of the area may accidentally drive into prohibited areas. This increases the chances of causing a car accident.
   
   
5. Weather and road conditions: this is a factor that is oftentimes never thought about by other drivers. When weather conditions are poor, they could cause slippery roads that will make the driver lose control. Other instances include poor road conditions, such as potholes that have not been properly maintained. When this occurs, you may have a claim against the government entity responsible for maintaining the potholes.